Mechanical driving means por concrete mixers



:21E'iCH-EF5ICAL DRIVING MEANS FOR CONCRETE MIXERS Filed Sept. 2. 1927 Fig.1.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 24, 1930 MNirEn starts RICHARD QFRANKIE, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON MECHANICAL DRIVING MEANS FORCONCRETE MIXERS Application filed September 2.1927. Serial No. 217,175.

The present invention relates to improvements in mechanlcal dr1v1ng means for transit concrete mixers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an enclosed gear drive mechanism from the motor drive means to the cylinder which will enable the tilting of the subframe and mixer to dumping position without disengagement of the driving connection parts. Another object is to provide a split journal box mounting a power transmitting element, affording a fulcrum about which the split box sections pivot and with which shafts have geared connection, one extending from each split box section; one shaft receiving power from the truck drive mechanism and the other delivering power to the mixing drum. A further object is to provide a power transmission mechanism of the above type, wherein there is provided a sleeve rotatable about the pivot axis of the sub-frame and mounting the bevelled gears, each having a driving connection Witha shaft, the latter being rotatable in separate sections of a split housing axially rotatable about the sleeve, one connected with a drive mechanism and the other with the mixing drum. v I

With the above mentioned and other ob jects in view, theinvention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the-accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, sizeand minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating one embodiment of my invention-- Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a transit concrete mixer carried by a subframe, illustrated in dumping position on' the chassis of a motor driven truck.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal broken sectional view of the preferred embodiment of my gear drive structure.

I carried by shafts-l7 and18.

of the sleeve 12. Anti-friction bearings22 Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of my improved gear drive structure. r In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, 1 1 indicates the frame of an automobile chatssis, mounting the conventional gearbox 2, f

with which connects the drive shaft 3, and from which extends the driven shaft 4.-

Pivotally mounted to the main frame 1,

on a horizontal axis5, and disposed with its '60.

forward end for raising and lowering relative to the frame 1, is a sub-frame 6. The frame 6 supports an elongated'cylindrical mixer drum 7 having a conical discharge end 8, the discharge opening of which is ,5 controlled by-a gate 9. The mixing drum 7 is'rotatablewithin cradles 10 of conventional form, the cradles being attached, in any suitable manner, to the sub-frame 6.

The drive mechanism for" rotating the mixing-drum '7 when either in its normal substantially horizontal position or in its inclined dumping position, is constructed as follows :The fulcrum point 5 of the sub-frame 6 is preferably in the form of a shaft 11, and on the same is rotatably mounted a sleeve 12. The sleeve at itsends carries bevelled gears 13 and 14 which intermesh respectively with bevelled pinions 15 and 16 U The shafts 17 and 18 are axially rotatable in bearings 19 and extend through a gear case 20, split at 21, into two sections, ina plane at right angles to the axis of rotation support the ends of the split sections of the gear case on the sleeve 12, and a telescopic connection 23 between adjacent walls of the 7 split sections affords a supporting connection therebetween and at the same time enables 'said split sections to be independently rotated axially of the sleeve 12.

The shaft, 17 is adapted to receive power from any suitable source, that illustrated being a conventional power'take-oif 24 asso- 9o ciated with the gear box 2.

The shaft 18'is designed to have driving connection with the mixing drum 7 to rotate the same, andas illustrated, the'shaft is journalled in bearings 25 carried bythe subframe 6, and mounts a gear 26 having intermeshmg connection with a rlng 27 disposed circumferentially of the mixing drum 7.

It will be observed that an enclosed drive has been providedand that by the introduction of lubricant to the interior of the gear case 20, the mechanism can be lubricated, and wear therein will be correspondingly reduced.

It will be observed that the gear case 20 protects the parts from grit and also enables the shafts 17 and 18 to be disposed in any relative driving relation desired, as the gear case sections are axially rotatable about sleeve 12 and shaft 11.

With the present form of drive mechanism the operator by manipulating the power take-oil 24 can cause rotation of the mixing drum 7 at any time desired, and it will be observed that the mixing drum can be rotated either when the sub-frame is in in 'clined or dumping position or in a horizon tal position, substantially at rest.

The mechanism for elevating the subframe from a posigion at rest to dumping position and returning it from the latter to the former may be of any convenient type, the structure and operation being not shown or described in the present applica tion.

I claim 1. A gearing comprising a sleeve, a housing enclosing the sleeve, and within which the latter is rotatably mounted at its ends, said housing being divided transversely of the axis of rotation of the sleeve into a plurality of cooperating sections relatively rotatable about the sleeve, a rotatable shaft carried by each section and mounted for movement therewith about the of the sleeve, means for operatively connecting said shafts with said sleeve, and a supporting shaft extending through said sleeve and atfording a support for the housing. I

'2. A gearing comprising a housing consisting of a pair of hollow sections arranged in end to end relation with a boreextending longitudinally therethrough, a sleeve journalled at its ends in the housing and Walls and in alignment with said bore, a pair of gears on said sleeve, one positioned Within each housing section, a shaft rotatablymounted in each section and extending therefrom at substantially right angles to the sleeve, a gear connection between each of said shafts and one of said sleeve gears, and a supporting shaft extending into said sleeve and afiording a means on which the same rotates, said shaft affording an axis about which said sleeve rotates and said housing sections pivot. p

3. A gearing comprising a housing consisting of a pair of hollow sections arranged in end to end relation with one extending into the other affording a bearing connection, said housing provided with a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, a sleeve journalled at its ends in said section end walls to rotate within said housing in alignment with said bore, a supporting shaft removably extending into the sleeve, a shaft rotatably mounted in each housing section and disposed at substantially right angles to the sleeve, and gear connections between the opposite ends of said sleeve and said respective shafts carried by said housing sections, said housing sections adapted for rotation about said sleeve and supporting shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RICHARD C. FRANKIE. 

